Does being in Cum Laude Society Matter?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’m reposting this in this Forum because I think I put it in the wrong spot yesterday.

One of my friends recently told me about my school’s Cum Laude society which basically accepts the top 10% of students in the junior class during their junior year and the rest of the top 20% senior year (at least at my school) based on GPA and a few traits. And apparently a lot of other schools around the country do it.

I was wondering how useful being part of the society is for college applications. The thing is, my school doesn’t send colleges a GPA or rank. So being in this society is kind of the only way for colleges to compare my academic performance to that of my peers. But is it even something I’d be able to put on an application? Would it go under awards or something? And it just occurred to me that the only way to have it on my app would be to get into the society during junior year since senior year would be too late. So I’d have to be in the top 10% of my class.

I know stuff like this is silly but I don’t really have any awards so anything would be great before I start applying to college.

2

No, it’s not. Even if the HS does not calculate GPA, AOs can figure it out. And if multiple students from the same HS apply, they will compare GPAs. Additionally, the school profile may give GPA distribution by decile. Regardless, the AO can figure out who has the stronger transcript.

Yes, but it’s rather like putting Honor Roll on your application.

3

Depending on you school’s Honor Roll criteria - our school’s has 80%+ of students ;).

Sounds like our school’s NHS - if it’s minimal effort to join, sure go ahead, but it won’t carry much weight in college admissions. It certainly won’t be used as a class ranking.